Word of the Day 4.30.08

bod·kin (bdkn)

n.

1. A small, sharply pointed instrument for making holes in fabric or leather.

2. A blunt needle for pulling tape or ribbon through a series of loops or a hem.

3. A long hairpin, usually with an ornamental head.

4. Printing An awl or pick for extracting letters from set type.

5. A dagger or stiletto.

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Posted on April 30, 2008 by admin

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Word of the Day 4.29.08

gran·dil·o·quence (grn-dl-kwns)

n.

Pompous or bombastic speech or expression.

Adj.

1.

grandiloquent – lofty in style; “he engages in so much tall talk, one never really realizes what he is saying”

rhetorical – given to rhetoric, emphasizing style at the expense of thought; “mere rhetorical frippery”

2.

grandiloquent – puffed up with vanity; “a grandiloquent and boastful manner”; “overblown oratory”; “a pompous speech”; “pseudo-scientific gobbledygook and pontifical hooey”- Newsweek

pretentious – making claim to or creating an appearance of (often undeserved) importance or distinction; “a pretentious country house”; “a pretentious fraud”; “a pretentious scholarly edition”

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Posted on April 29, 2008 by admin

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Word of the Day 4.28.08

cae·su·ra also ce·su·ra (s-zhr, -zr)

n. pl. cae·su·ras or cae·su·rae (-zhr, -zr)

1. A pause in a line of verse dictated by sense or natural speech rhythm rather than by metrics.

2. A pause or interruption, as in conversation: After another weighty caesura the senator resumed speaking.

3. In Latin and Greek prosody, a break in a line caused by the ending of a word within a foot, especially when this coincides with a sense division.

4. Music A pause or breathing at a point of rhythmic division in a melody.

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Posted on April 28, 2008 by admin

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Word of the Day 4.27.08

vac·u·ous (vky-s)

adj.

1. Devoid of matter; empty.

2.

a. Lacking intelligence; stupid.

b. Devoid of substance or meaning; inane: a vacuous comment.

c. Devoid of expression; vacant: “The narrow, swinelike eyes were open, no more vacuous in death than they had been in life” Nicholas Proffitt.

3. Lacking serious purpose or occupation; idle. See Synonyms at empty.

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Posted on April 27, 2008 by admin

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Word of the Day 4.26.08

en·fran·chise (n-frnchz)

tr.v. en·fran·chised, en·fran·chis·ing, en·fran·chis·es

1. To bestow a franchise on.

2. To endow with the rights of citizenship, especially the right to vote.

3. To free, as from bondage.

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Posted on April 26, 2008 by admin

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Word of the Day 4.25.08

pi·le·us (pl-s)

n. pl. pi·le·i (-l-)

1. Botany The umbrellalike fruiting structure forming the top of a stalked fleshy fungus, such as a mushroom; the cap.

2. A brimless round skullcap worn by ancient Romans.

3. See caul.

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Posted on April 25, 2008 by admin

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Word of the Day 4.24.08

bump·tious (bmpshs)

adj.

Crudely or loudly assertive; pushy.

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Posted on April 24, 2008 by admin

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Word of the Day 4.23.08

vit·ri·ol (vtr-l, -l)

n.

1.

a. See sulfuric acid.

b. Any of various sulfates of metals, such as ferrous sulfate, zinc sulfate, or copper sulfate.

2. Bitterly abusive feeling or expression.

tr.v. vit·ri·oled or vit·ri·olled, vit·ri·ol·ing or vit·ri·ol·ling, vit·ri·ols

To expose or subject to vitriol.

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Posted on April 23, 2008 by admin

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Word of the Day 4.22.08

re·cru·desce (rkr-ds)

intr.v. re·cru·desced, re·cru·desc·ing, re·cru·desc·es

To break out anew or come into renewed activity, as after a period of quiescence.

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Posted on April 22, 2008 by admin

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Word of the Day 4.21.08

vi·tu·per·ate (v-tp-rt, -ty-, v-)

v. vi·tu·per·at·ed, vi·tu·per·at·ing, vi·tu·per·ates

v.tr.

To rebuke or criticize harshly or abusively; berate. See Synonyms at scold.

v.intr.

To use harshly abusive language; rail.

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Posted on April 21, 2008 by admin

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